Device for branding casks and similar articles.



B.UHLMANN. DEVICE FOR BBANDING GASKS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12, 1912.

\ 1,057,689. Patented Apr. 1, 1913.

' WITNESSES: INVENTOR A-TTY.

current. for

, ing casks ERNST UHLMANN, 0F ALBANY, NEW YORK.

DEVICE FOR BRANDIN G CASKS AND SIMILAR- ARTICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed August 12, 1912. Serial No. 714,529. v

To all whom it mayconcem Be it known that LERNST UHLMANN, a

Citizen of'the United States of America,

residing at the cityof Albany, in-the county of Albany and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Branding Casks and Similar Articles, of which the following is a specification.

y invention relates to devices for brand-.

and similar articles, and the ob- Ject of m invention to provide a means for brand in a cask by the use of electric heatin the branding plate; together with such e ements and combinations as are hereinafter -more particularly set forth and claimed.- I accomplish these objects by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure. 1 is a front elevation of a cask and means for supporting. it, showing my invention applied to the ends of a cask. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my branding device, with parts in section and parts broken away. Similar letters refer to similar parts throu bout the several views.

Cas must bebranded and to perform this operation it is, of course, necessary to use a' branding plate. When this is done, in. ordinary practice, a furnace is usually employed and the danger from conflagration'is so great thatthe expense for insurance of the plant is very materially in- Y creased thereby.

(he of the objects of my invention is to provide means for performing the necessary because of the means for without endangeri't extra-hazardous heating thebranding plate I arrange for heating the plate operation ofbranding ing-the plant or making by electricity. Most of the manufactories using casks in large numbers are provided with electric wiring, and consequently my apparatus is easily attached. Heretofore the attempt to perform this operation electrically has been, so far as I am informed, unsuccessful, principally because no mechanism has been heretofore devised for preventing the ready destruction or frequent breaking of the heating element.

One of the'principal objects of my invention is to provide means whereby the heating element will be so constructed and connected up that it will not be liable to be making the end of the bar burned out or broken off in the operation of my device.

In Fig. 1, I show the cask, A, supported upon a suitable adjustable table, B, and the branding plates,

done, as shown in the figure, by the operat1on of the right and left screw-threaded rod, E, which meshes with threads in the sliding supports, F and G, the supports, F and G, sliding on the rod, J. The rod E carries at one end a wheel K, provided with a handle- L, by meansof which the rod E may be turned to move the supports F, G, as will be readily understood. A suitable wheel, 6, on the rod, d, connected with the table, B, may be turned to raise or lower the table, depending upon the direction of the movement of the wheel, b. Each of the supports, F and G, is preferably provided with a portion, M, through which the bar, N, passes, which bar is attached or formed inte al with the frame, 0, carrying the hca P, and branding plate, D. The bar, N, is preferably provided with an offset, 11,, smaller in width at one end, the smaller end, m, thereof passing through the portion, M, of the supports, G'and F, respectively, the offset, n, constituting a stop to engage the side of the portion, 'M, limiting the extent of the movement of the bar through the portion, M. A flat spring, f, attached to the surface of the portion, M, opposite that through which the bar, N enters the opening in the portion, M, is secured thereto by suitable screws or bolts, and bears against the end of the bar. whereby the head P may yield slightly as will be readily understood.

I do not limit myself to the means shown herein for supporting the cask or for causing the branding plates to approach and recede from thecask. This is only one of many arrangements which may be employed.

A connecting block it is mounted upon any suitable part of the device as portion M, in one side of which block are received the ends of wires IV and T, of an electric circuit, in which is interposed a rheostat R and switch 7, connected with wire S, leading to any suitable source of electricity. Spring contacts X Y connect the wires W T in the block it, with the resistance element Z Within the container 20, on head P within which the branding plate D is supported. These contacts X Y are preferably U-shaped m e- Patented Apr. 1, i913.

C and D,.brought into cont act with the ends of the cask, which maybe breaking or injuring the electric connection.

tallic bars, which constitute a spring connection to take up jars on the connection to the resistance element. In order to make the connection between the U-shaped spring contacts, X and Y, and the resistance element in the container, Z, strong and efficacious, I double up the end of the contact at 12, making an enlarged metallic engagement, increasing the area of electrical contact and at the same time greatly strengthening the union and so reducing the de velopment of heat at the weakest point of the connect-ion. In order to prevent the breaking of the wires, IV and T, occasioned by the movement of the contacts, X and Y, I make the opening in the plug, it, larger than the wire at Y to allow for play.

I do not show or describe the construction of the contents of the container, Z, as any suit-able arrangement therein, which may be heated by the application of electricity conveyed thereto, is within the scope of my invention.

, The operation of my invention is as follows: The cask, A, having been placed on a suitable table, B, preferably regulated as to its height by the movement of the wheel, I), or in any suitable manner, the branding lates, D and G, are brought closely in co atact with the ends of the cask. The electricity is then turned on and the plates becoming heated cause the raised etters or figures thereon to be burned into the end of the cask. The branding plates, because of the flexible or spring connections, and Y, and their attachment, will be permitted to move backward and forward Without- By adjusting the finger, r, of the rheostat more or less current may the resistance element 20, as desired.

I preferably provide a pilot light, w, between the rheostat and connecting block, it, which will show when the current is passing into the branding device. I also preferably place a fuse, s, between the rheostat and the pilot light, to, in order to prevent too heavy a current passing into the device.

My invention is very simple in its construction and operation and performs the be delivered to work required of it in a practical and economical manner.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Means for electrically branding casks and similar articles, comprising a branding plate for each head thereof; means for bringing the branding plates and the heads of a cask together; a heating element in contact with said branding plates; and resilient, adjustable means for electrically connecting said heating element with the wires leading from the source of supply.

A device for electrically branding casks and similar articles, comprising adjustable means for supporting the cask; adjustable supports for the branding mechanism; a branding plate; a head to which it is attached, said head being provided with spring electric contacts; and resilient means for exerting a constant pressure upon the head, tending to press the branding iron against the cask.

3. In a device for electrically branding easks, the combination with supports for the cask, embodying heads movable toward and from each other. branding plates carried by said heads, resistance elements in contact with said branding plates, and L pring contacts interposed in the electric circuit and contacting with the resistance elements.

,4. In adevice for electrically branding casks, the combination with the supports for the cask, embodying heads movable toward and from each other, a branding plate carried by each of said heads, a resistance element in contact with each plate, an electric circuit, a plug into one side of which the wires of the circuit project, and spring contacts interposed between the resistance element and plug, and having a sliding connection therewith.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ERNST UHLMANN.

\Vitnesses BEULAH GARLE, FREDERICK W. CAMERON. 

